Clearing and Preparing the Land 165 



visitations are likely to occur at any moment, 

 hence forethought to attend to them is abso- 

 lutely necessary. A good medicine chest and 

 an able, qualified native medico have more 

 than once saved the situation in a panic and 

 with cases of distress. The wise expenditure 

 of a moderate sum in these necessities is well 

 spent, indeed. To prevent epidemics, it is 

 advisable to drain the labourers' lines well, 

 and keep a good stock of reliable disinfec- 

 tants for flushing the drains regularly ahd 

 for spraying the insides of the houses. One 

 other most important item is the proper 

 and wholesome feeding of the people under 

 one's charge. It pays every time. The 

 dusky brethren are, after all, human, and 

 respond gratefully to decent, if firm, treatment 

 and the just management of them, although, 

 unfortunately, many unthinking persons deny 

 this and claim that harshness and severity are 

 necessary in order to obtain the utmost value 

 out of their labour. This is, however, by no 

 means 'borne out by facts. The worthies who 

 advocate such measures are most frequently to 

 be found in the big hostelries, as near to the 

 bar as their meagre pockets allow, and there 

 they hold forth volubly to the delectation of 

 all and sundry who may be willing to listen to 

 them. The discovery of their career and 

 pedigree will soon reveal the fact that they 

 are like unto the proverbial rolling stone, 

 shifting ever and no time to collect any 



